This book that Burchett has delivered to us that is right on target. It is thought provoking and in some places heart wrenching (and tear jerking). It was open, honest, and in some cases raw. Some parts were very uncomfortable to read.

Burchetts writing is entertaining. It is engaging and personal. It felt more like listening to an interesting speaker than it did reading a topic-driven book. His wit is sometimes cutting but underneath the surface you can really feel the undercurrent of the painful things he has gone through. I felt that instead of making him sound bitter or piteous, it made him more relatable.

The church needs this book. There are a lot of things that we in the church can change so that we can be a more accurate picture of Jesus to this world. Even if you dont agree with everything he writes, there is something to gain from thinking about his underlying message.

Though I feel that I am better off for having read it, the book did not ultimately deliver what I was expecting. Based on the title, I was hoping to find a guidebook for helping others (and myself) recover from painful experiences caused by other believers. The material was good and useful, but there was very little advice on helping others to move on. A better title may have been, Dont Be That Guy, or How to Be a Bad Christian.

One thing I came away with after reading this book is a greater understanding of Gods grace, what it means to me, and what it means to the world. Despite the fact that it is such a fundamental aspect of our faith, we often take it for granted, and Burchett really brought a fresh perspective to it.

Even though the content didnt quite match the title, I really enjoyed the book. It challenged me. I would certainly recommend it to anyone.

The title of course is excellent. Dave does a good job writing in a conversational style with great humor. I highly recommend this book! However, if you are on the sensitive, legalistic end of Christianity you may not enjoy the humor as much as the rest of us.

The Bad:

When I was reading it, my complaint was that there just wasn't much meat in the book. Yes, Christians are hypocrites in transition (my words not his) and we have hurt each other. So what now? Anyhow by the end Dave addressed that question in the last third of the book. What surprised me was how many pages I'd dog-eared to come back to later. Evidently I got more from it then I realized while reading it!

The Ugly:

It brought back memories of church wars. Some of us have a bit of PTSD. Worst yet, it brought back memories of when I've been the bad Christian. Conviction is necessary - but ugly.

I'll be recommending this book. It drops a star only because the inside wasn't quite as good as the title. That's impossible I realize, but hey, it's my review. So there.

Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers sent this book to me free for an unbiased review. That's what I've tried to give. As a Christian who is sometimes bad, I might could be bribed, but not for ten bucks.

When Bad Christians Happen To Good People, written by David Burchett, is a book that brings to the surface a common problem within the church today: Christians who bring difficulties into the lives of other Christians.

Many Christians have the unwanted ability to share stories of how they were wrongly treated by other Christians or the church as a whole, but the majority of these circumstances pale in comparison to the experiences of the Burchett family.

The Burchetts understand suffering at the hands of the church first hand. David and Joni's daughter, Katie, was born with a severe birth defect that meant soon coming certain death. They had to make drastic adjustments to their family life to accommodate an infant that they knew would not be with them for long.

Was the church there for them in this their greatest hour of need up to that point? NO. In fact, the church made their circumstances worse. The church made their pain almost unbearable. Fearing their daughter Katie might die during a church service or somehow affect the health of the other children, it was decided that she was no longer welcome in the church nursery.

Throughout the pages of this book, David doesn't just share horror stories and leave us leave us holding the problems in our hands with no idea of what to do about them. He offers solutions and guidance on how we can change our ways to become the kind of Christ-followers who would make others want to follow Christ as well.

This book is an amazing read. Thus it is a recommended read by all Christians seeking a more powerful understanding and focus on the movement of God within their lives.

DISCLAIMER: I received an Advance Reader's Copy of the book "When Bad Christians Happen to Good People" by Dave Burchett from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers in exchange for a publicized review of the book.

There is one thing about looking into a mirror - you see your exact self, flaws and all. Do NOT read this book unless you are willing to be faced with your exact self, flaws and all. I hate to admit how much of myself I saw in this provoking and challenging book. While I would prefer to see myself as a "good" Christian, I must admit I have been a pretty good "bad" one most of my Christian life. Much like in front of a mirror, in Burchett's book there is no hiding. It is an easy read; it's facing the revealed flaws that is hard. This book is a must read for every person who claims to be a Christian. As research continues to reveal that the church in America is declining and being less trusted than ever before, Burchett reveals the ugly truth behind why - its our own fault; we are our own worst enemy. And it is personal before it becomes corporate. No one denomination or organization is to blame. I am to blame. And I have a hunch that everyone that reads the book will draw the same conclusion. Burchett does include a wonderful little guide to using the book as a study tool both for personal and small group usage. I needed this book and its message. Maybe you don't. I didn't think I did - until I read it.